Officials from NOAA's National Weather Service recognized Williamsburg
County, S.C., as a leader by naming it among the agency’s StormReady
communities today. NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
is an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

“StormReady
encourages counties to take a new, proactive approach to improving
local hazardous weather operations and public awareness,” said
Michael Caropolo, meteorologist in charge at the NWS Weather Forecast
Office in Wilmington N.C. “South Carolina and Williamsburg County
have a long history of severe weather and it is the goal of StormReady
to reduce the impact of severe weather in the state.”

“StormReady
recognition is a positive indication this community takes the dangers
of severe weather seriously,” said Dr. James
R. Mahoney, assistant secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere
and NOAA deputy administrator. “NOAA commends the efforts of
community leaders to protect their citizenry from harm. We hope these
efforts will continue to spread across the country.”

The
nationwide community preparedness program uses a grassroots approach
to help communities develop plans to handle local severe weather and
flooding threats. The program is voluntary, and provides communities
with clear-cut advice from a partnership between the local NWS Weather
Forecast Office and state and local emergency managers. StormReady
started in 1999 with seven communities in the Tulsa, Okla., area.
There are now more than 800 StormReady communities in 47 states.

The
presentation of the certificate to the Williamsburg County Council
will occur today at the regularly scheduled Council meeting. The StormReady
recognition will be in effect for three years when the county will
go through a recertification process.

“Every
year, around 500 Americans lose their lives to severe weather and
floods,” said Brig. Gen. David
L. Johnson, U.S. Air Force (Ret.), director of NOAA's National
Weather Service. “More than 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 2,500
floods, 1,000 tornadoes, and 10 hurricanes impact the United States
annually. Potentially deadly weather can impact every person in the
country. That’s why the NOAA's National Weather Service developed
the StormReady program.”

To
be recognized as StormReady, a community must:

Establish
a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center

Have
more than one way to receive severe weather warnings and forecasts
and to alert the public

“The
United States is one of the most severe weather prone regions of the
world,” Soroka said. “The mission of NOAA's National Weather
Service is to reduce the loss of life and property from these storms,
and StormReady will help us create better prepared communities throughout
the country.”

“Just
like counties, families need to be storm ready by having an action
plan for severe weather. Through StormReady, the National Weather
Service plans to educate every American about what to do when severe
weather strikes because it is ultimately each individual's responsibility
to protect him or herself. Only you can save your own life. The best
warnings in the world won't save you if you don't take action when
severe weather threatens,” Caropolo added.

NOAA's
National Weather Service is the primary source of weather data, forecasts
and warnings for the United States and its territories. The NOAA’s
National Weather Service operates the most advanced weather and flood
warning and forecast system in the world, helping to protect lives
and property and enhance the national economy.

NOAA
is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through
the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events
and providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and
marine resources.